MARION COUNTY, SC (WMBF) – A 29-year-old Marion County man has pleaded guilty to unemployment insurance fraud and was sentenced to pay $10,000 in restitution to the Department of Employment and Workforce.

Jonathan Waiters pleaded guilty this week to one count of making a false statement or misrepresentation with the intent to defraud DEW and was sentenced to three years in prison, which was suspended to time served, according to a news release from the agency.

Between November 11, 2008 and February 13, 2010, Waiters received unemployment benefits because he claimed to be totally unemployed and earning no wages, the DEW news release states. An investigation by DEW found he had been gainfully employed and intentionally falsified information to defraud the state.

In addition to the $10,000 in restitution, Waiters was ordered to pay a $1,500 civil penalty to the state.